Abstract

FLOREZ RUIZ, José Fernando. Happiness, suicide, wealth and State performance. Rev. Derecho Estado [online]. 2013, n.30, pp.125-155. ISSN 0122-9893.

Putting into perspective Durkheim's classic study (1897) on suicide as an indicator of social unrest, and through a critical analysis of the recent proliferation of global indexes measuring happiness, this paper attempts to articulate both variables: suicide rate and happiness score as possible indicators of state performance in terms of its inhabitants' subjective well-being. Moreover, the paper highlights the bias that has been led against these two parameters, as well as the environmental impact of countries, in the existing Poor State Performance Indexes (PSPI). This is due to the monopoly of richer states having created these indices, as 'production centers', whereas, they are not, in fact, the happiest states and have relatively high rates of voluntary death. The Happy Planet Index is a notable exception to this bias, but its methodology remains unsatisfactory. Religion, political institutions and the economy in their three dimensions -wealth, poverty and inequality -are all contributing factors to the analysis of happiness, but their effects are nuanced in order toavoid falling into determinism.

Keywords : Colombia; democracy; economy; failed States; globalization; global indexes of happiness; happiness; inequality; poverty; public policy; religion; scientific paradigms; social capital; social well-being; State performance; suicide; sustainable development; wealth; Welfare State.

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